U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday secured a diplomatic breakthrough in Washington as leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame, signed a peace deal aimed at ending decades of violence in eastern Congo.
The agreement marks the most direct U.S.-facilitated intervention in the long-running conflict, which has shaped regional politics and drawn in multiple armed groups over more than 30 years.
The signing took place at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, where the U.S. president hosted both leaders for a bilateral session before presiding over the ceremony.
Trump described the agreement as a “historic step toward stability” and announced plans for the United States to negotiate individual mining and investment agreements with both countries.
He added that major American companies would soon enter the region to explore rare earth opportunities, a sector critical to global technology and energy industries.
Eastern Congo’s mineral wealth—including coltan, cobalt, and other strategic resources—has long been at the center of clashes involving militias, regional actors, and economic interests.
Analysts have often pointed to the role of foreign powers and cross-border tensions as major contributors to sustained instability.
U.S. pressure, observers noted, played a decisive role in bringing the two leaders together after years of failed African-led negotiations.
Rwandan President Kagame acknowledged that numerous previous efforts collapsed before gaining traction, but credited Trump with managing to secure commitments where others could not.
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Congolese President Tshisekedi described the agreement as the start of a “new and difficult journey,” signalling cautious optimism while acknowledging the deep mistrust built over decades.
Despite the formal ceremony, signs of tension lingered. The two presidents did not shake hands, instead exchanging minimal gestures before signing the document.
The agreement reaffirms earlier pledges by both nations to respect territorial sovereignty, end support for armed groups, and halt cross-border hostilities.
Still, experts warn that the pact may not immediately resolve the conflict. Analysts argue that while the Washington deal is symbolically significant, progress on the ground depends heavily on ongoing negotiations in Doha.
Those talks include representatives of the M23 rebel movement, which is backed by Rwanda and earlier this year seized major cities in North and South Kivu, establishing administrative control in occupied areas.
Regional observers say the effectiveness of the peace accord will hinge on enforcement mechanisms, cooperation with armed factions, and whether both governments follow through on commitments beyond Washington’s diplomatic stage.
Nevertheless, the deal marks one of the most prominent international attempts in recent years to address instability in eastern Congo and signals renewed American interest in shaping outcomes in the region.
